Getting Started

Introducing CERCA: Recommended Scope and Sequence

Elizabeth Riley

Updated July 26, 2017 15:13

The first lessons students encounter with ThinkCERCA are essential for building independence and buy-in, as well as laying the foundation for two years of growth. Our recommended scope and sequence for ELA is carefully scaffolded to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the CERCA Framework.

In addition to covering critical literacy skills like summarizing and organizing arguments, the first six CERCA Sets of our recommended scope and sequence are designed to introduce students to the building blocks of CERCA.

Our CERCA Sets are comprised of Direct Instruction and Applied Reading & Writing lessons. We recommend assigning the Direct Instruction lessons first to introduce students to the skill that they will focus on in the Applied Reading & Writing lesson, like summarizing or making a claim. (Read more: What are Direct Instruction lessons?)

As students work through the paired Applied Reading & Writing lesson, they should focus most closely on the skill related to the Direct Instruction lesson.